Monrovia – For the first time since he was removed by his colleagues as Speaker of the House of Representatives, Representative Alex Tyler was present in session under the gavel of the new Speaker, Emmanuel Nuquay.
Report by Henry Karmo – [email protected]
Speaker Tyler was seen in sitting in one of the pews in the joint chambers of the Capitol Building, a place he and his supporters once described as illegitimate for the holding of session.
Speaking to reporters Tyler described his relationship with the current Speaker as friendly and brotherly.
Responding to questions about why he hadn’t been in session he said – “I am therepresentative of the people of Clay District so I deserve that right to come to work.”
“If I decide not to, I will tell the people of Clay I don’t want the job so nobody can pressure me to. I was elected to serve them.”
Asked how he felt sitting in the pew in the joint chambers he once called illegitimate he said – “I have been in that pew before so it’s nothing strange.
“We are friends and brothers and for me, the removal or whatever it is history.”
Since his ousting he has not been given an office space in the Capitol, but Tyler who appeared calm said he believes administrative arrangements were being made to get him an office as soon as possible.
“If I have office fine, if not I will operate from my private office.”
“As far as I am concerned, my personal things are in my private office,” Tyler said.
On a local talk show Representative Edwin Snowe said, the former Speaker will be given an office on the ground floor close to the bathroom but Tyler doesn’t appear to be concerned about where his office would be located.
“They can even put me in the bathroom it wouldn’t change who I am.”
The legislature is like the Judiciary, you can serve as a Chief Justice and tomorrow you come back and become a judge.”
Tyler was ousted two months ago as Speaker through a resolution signed by 49 members of the House of Representatives.
The lawmakers’ action was in keeping with Article 49 of the Constitution of Liberia which provides the process through which the speaker of that body can be removed.
Article 49 of the Liberian Constitution states: “The House of Representatives shall elect once every six years a Speaker who shall be the presiding officer of that body, a Deputy Speaker and such other officers as shall ensure the proper functioning of the House.
The Speaker, the Deputy Speaker and other officers so elected may be removed from office for cause by resolution of two-thirds majority of the members of the House.”